Class 1: Who we are and what we do

The UK Foundation Programme Office

Aim of the Foundation Programme:The Foundation Programme is a two-year structured, supervised programme of workplace-based learning for medical school graduates which exists to prepare junior doctors for specialty training by providing them with the medical knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the GMC’s The New Doctor and the Foundation Programme Curriculum. The programme is designed to provide foundation doctors with the ability to reflect on their aspirations and attributes and match these with service need.

Aim of the UK Foundation Programme Office: The UKFPO exists to facilitate the operation and continuing development of the Foundation Programme across the UK, including:

• Developing national strategies, standards and guidance• Acting as a central hub of information regarding official policy, advice and guidance about the Foundation Programme• Developing guidance which underpin the standards set by the regulators• Coordinating stakeholder input to improve processes and promote alignment of groups• Facilitating the sharing of notable practice at a local and national level• Enabling UK-wide consistency without stifling local innovation• Developing the national recruitment process on both strategic and operational levels, in partnership with the Health Education England and the other three UK health departments• Managing allocation of applicants to foundation schools • Facilitating the provision of clear, consistent and robust careers advice at undergraduate and postgraduate level• Collecting and collating national data relating to all aspects of foundation training• Responding to changing policy of the 4 UK health departments• Continuously improving the content and delivery of foundation programmes • Working with stakeholders to promote seamless training for junior doctors from medical schools through foundation to specialty training.• Providing foundation doctors with greater exposure to shortage specialties.

The UKFPO is a small team comprising:• 3 part-time special advisors who are consultants and other healthcare professionals, and who support the work of the UKFPO in a variety of roles, including the role of National Director.• 6 FTE office-based staff who are communications and project delivery professionals, with one role dedicated to office management and administration.

Committees/Working GroupsClick here to view the committees and working groups organised and attended by the UKFPO.

Click here to see details of the terms of reference and membership for each committee/working group managed by the UKFPO.

Organisations with whom we workThe UKFPO works closely with many stakeholders. Click here to see a list of the main organisations we work with and a list of the stakeholder events we hold regularly each year.